EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP TEST RUGBY: Luxembourg Face Bulgaria

22.10.2011
Luxembourg v Bulgaria in Pernik (ENC 2D)

Venue: Stadium "Dimova Makhala",

Referee: Narimanidze (Georgia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
CYPRUS	5	5	0	0	256	38	218	5	0	25
BULGARIA	4	3	0	1	63	95	-32	0	0	12
GREECE	4	1	0	3	72	87	-15	1	2	7
FINLAND	4	1	0	3	41	107	-62	0	1	5
LUXEMB.	5	1	0	4	51	156	-95	0	0	4

Preview
Neither team has any show of winning this European Nations Cup, 2D pool. The form that Cyprus is showing would suggest they are certain winners of ENC 2D for 2010-12 and will be promoted to ENC 2C for 2012-14.

Luxembourg will be focusing on not being relegated, as they hold bottom of the ladder. They travel to Bulgaria with a squad of only 18, meaning only three reserves. This will not allow them any real options.

Bulgaria are always a tough nut to crack on their home turf. Luxembourg can expect a torrid time. I expect Bulgaria to win fairly comfortably.

Last Five Encounters
13.11.2010 Bulgaria 18-8 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)
24.10.2009 Bulgaria 25-12 in Pernik (ENC 3C)
29.11.2008 Bulgaria 18-10 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 3C)
24.04.2004 Luxembourg 39-5 in Cessange (ENC 3B)
18.10.1997 Luxembourg 39-6 in Sofia (FIRA Bronze A)

These two teams played each other in a rugby test match for the first time in 1988, Bulgaria winning 14-4.

The last time these two teams met
Bulgaria won 18-8.

Bulgaria Last Five
14.05.2011 v Finland W 12-10 in Pernik (ENC 2D)
12.03.2011 v Cyprus L 8-55 in Paphos (ENC 2D)
13.11.2010 v Luxembourg W 18-8 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)
06.11.2010 v Greece W 25-22 in Pernik (ENC 2D)
24.04.2010 v Greece W 18-15 in Pernik (ENC 3C)

Luxembourg Last Five
08.10.2011 v Cyprus L 7-48 in Paphos (ENC 2D)
07.05.2011 v Cyprus L 0-50 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)
02.04.2011 v Greece L 18-30 in Athens (ENC 2D)
13.11.2010 v Bulgaria L 8-18 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)
09.10.2010 v Finland W 18-10 in Helsinki (ENC 2D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Bulgaria 35th, Luxembourg 38th

IRB Ranking Points
Bulgaria 37.12, Luxembourg 32.49

Prediction: Bulgaria by 20 points

Teams

Luxembourg Squad
Christophe Balthazard (RC Luxembourg)
Damien Bessieres (RC Luxembourg)
James Clarke (RC Luxembourg)
Steven Clarke (RC Luxembourg)
Julien da Col (RC Luxembourg)
Robin Dex (RC Luxembourg)
Maxime Dozin (RC Luxembourg)
Christopher Ellis (RC Luxembourg)
Bryan Fage (RC Walferdange)
Vincent Giffard (RC Luxembourg)
Stuart Kelly (RC Luxembourg)
Yared Ketema (RC Luxembourg)
Phillippe Letalon (RC Walferdange)
Jan Louw (RC Luxembourg)
Zelito Neves Dos Santos (Walferdange)
Saman Rezapour (RC Luxembourg)
Timothee Seite (RC Walferdange)
Nigel Sharplin (RC Luxembourg)
Head Coach: Martin Davis

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3901

Bulgaria Squad Not Available

Interesting interview in Bulgarian of their France-based centre Ivailo Ivanov (St Etienne) who plays in the club’s second XV.
http://rugbybg.com/interview-s-ivailo-ivanov/